Antifriction device for sucker-rods.



Patented luv. 4, I902.

w. 1.. BLACK. ANTIFRITETIUN DEVICE FOR SUCKER RODS.

(Application filed Feb. 6. 1902 (Nd Model.)

IIIII- 1 I l A 17 I UNITED STAT S PATENT fission.

WILLIAM LESLIEBLAOK, on FORT MCKAVETT, TEXAS.

ANTIFRICTION DEVICE FOR SUCKER-RODS.

SPEGLEEGAJJILON forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,486, dated November 4, 1902.

Application filed February 6, 1902. Serial No. 92,887. (No model.)

To all whmn it nu yfconccrn:

Beit known that I,WILLIAM LESLIE BLACK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fort McKavett, county of Menard, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antifriction Devices for Sucker-Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relatesto antifriction devices for sucker rods orropes or for the coupling devices thereof, and while it is particularly designed to protect the rod, rope, or'coupler from wear incident to the rubbing of the moving part against the casing it likewise accomplishes the desirable result of leaving the pipe surrounding the rod practically free from obstruction, so that the flow of the liquid is substantially unimpeded, and serves to free the rollers and bearings of the antifriction device from sand and grit, whereby the durability and efficiency of the device are corre- 'spondingly increased.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents, partly in section, a well-casing, two sucker-rod sections, and a coupler therefor, said coupler being provided withone of my improveddevices. Fig. 2 isa horizontalsection on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a well-casing, illustrating a modified form of my device as applied directly to a rod-section. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4t 40f Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, the numerall represents the usual form of tubular metal casing employed in Artesian, oil, and other wells of this character, in which the suckerrod 2 reciprocates. This rod is composed of separate sections united by couplers comprising ferrules 3 and 4, provided with the engaging screw-threaded sections 5 and 6, of the usual form well known to those skilled in the art. Between the respective members of the coupler I mount my improved antifrictiou device, whichconsists of a collar 7, provided with an internal screw-thread cor-' ring I prefer to form vertical flanges 8, which constitute sockets to receive the ends of the coupler-sections. Projecting radially from the periphery of the collar 7 are a series of forks 9, provided with bearings at their outer ends, in which are mounted by means of suitablejournal-pins or gudgeons 10 the antifriction balls or rollers 11, which engage the inner surface of the casing, and, thereby'maintain the rod in its central vertical alinement with respect to the casing and likewise prevent the rod from rubbing against the side of the easprises a sleeve encircling the rod, which sleeve is split longitudinally to form two mating sections 21 21, inclosing the rod between them, which sections are united and firmly bound to the rod by means of suitable bolts passed through the ears22. Projecting radially from the sleeve-sections and preferably formed integral therewith are a series of forks 23, which constitute the supports for antifriction-rollers '24:. ,Theends of these forks are provided with bearings which receive the journalpins or gudgeons 25, upon which the antifrictionsrollers 24 are mounted. These journal-pins may be secured in position by nuts 26 engaging the screw-threaded ends thereof, or by cotters, as illustrated at 12 in Fig. 2, or in any other well-known manner.

1 i It will be observed'that my improved antifriction device, as illustrated inboth modifications, comprises a light framework or series of forksattached to the sucker-rod which interpose a comparatively small obstruction to the flow of material in the tube, as the spaces included within and between the several forks are relatively large and free...

It is obvious that the number of antifric tion-rollers may be variedto suit. difiierent conditions of operation, so' that each of the supporting-collars is provided with two or more rollers disposed about its periphery in such relation as to preserve the alinement of the rod in the casing.

The particular form of my invention shown in Fig. l is designed to be app1ied,-as indicated, to the sucker-rods at the junctionpoints of the various couplers. Before the sections are united I screw one of my antifriction devices upon the male member of a' coupler-section until it finds a firm bearing against the shoulder of said section. mating portion of the coupler on the next rod-section is then engaged with the portion. of the male member which projects through the collar of my antifriction device and is screwed thereon until the collar is held firmly between the two sections. In this way my antifriction device is rigidly secured to the rod, and the several antifriction-rollers are held firmly against the sides of the casing, thereby preventing the rod from leaving its central alinement or rubbingagainst the sides of the casing.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the device may be applied to any portion of the sucker-rod, and it will be apparent that as many of these antifriction devices may be applied to the rod in such relation to each other and at such distances'apart as good practice may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of a sucker-rod coupling comprising two engaging members and an an tifriction device comprising a collar pro- The vided with antifriction-rollers, interposed between the engaging members of the coupling.

2. An antifriction device for sucker-rod couplers, comprising a collar adapted to be secured between the mating coupler members of the rod-sections, radial forks projecting from said collar and provided with hearings in their outer ends, and antifriction-rollers mounted in said bearings.

3. An antifriction device for sucker-rod In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LEsLIE BLACK.

Witnesses:

J AS. A. OHAMPIE, 'W. R. TOMLINSON. 

